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Preschool | Pandas | Otters | School Age | Grizzlies | Kingsnakes | Includes | Development | Vacations During the preschool years, children are working on their socialization skills. Some of the most common areas of growth are how to resolve conflict in a positive manner, how to celebrate differences in each other and in the larger community, and how to verbalize their needs and feelings. At Kids Inc we support this with children’s play and build a curriculum that reinforces this growth. Our teachers and support staff take the time to meet the needs of each individual child. Our preschoolers also benefit from our location in West Woodland School. All preschool classrooms link up with school age children as reading buddies, visit the school library, attend West Woodland assemblies and enjoy a rich mixture of inclusion and diversity. Our Panda class is a mixture of children aged three to five years old. All children must be potty trained and able to dress themselves. This class focuses on socialization and learning through play. While children play, they bring to the classroom experiences from their life. It is those experiences that create a richly diverse environment for learning. The curriculum is designed to support children’s development and individual growth. It includes pre-literacy activities, art, math development skills, science exploration, small and large motor skill development, creative expression, music enrichment and frequent field trips. While children are learning, Kids Inc offers a secure and loving environment with an established routine and written daily communication with families. Our Otter class is a mixture of children that are older fours or five years (in September). This unique setting allows children to learn pre-kindergarten skills. School readiness activities may include pre-reading and writing, counting, number recognition and problem solving, all presented in a fun-filled but purposeful manner. The exploration of early learning continues in areas of dramatic play, science, art and music. Emphasis is placed on cooperative play as children practice their understanding of socially appropriate behavior. The small class size allows for more flexibility and individual learning. Our special relationship with West Woodland School allows us to build a cohesive structure for school age children at Kids Inc. Kids Inc is a part of the Seattle School District Alignment Program and our teachers provide programming that is engaging and interesting but it also includes key educational points that supports childrens learning Special attention is paid to the developmental needs of all age groups. Children are grouped according to age and need. Snacks are provided both before and after school Our Kindergarten through second grade children enjoy the main room in the after-school program at Kids Inc. Children are encouraged to enjoy the out of doors immediately after school, which includes group games, individual play or the wonderful playground provided by West Woodland School. Also offered after school are a nutritious snack and various activities including cooking, science activities, arts and crafts, community service, music, and homework club that are either led by a teacher or by students. Imaginative play, games, computers (both at Kids Inc and at West Woodland) and an extensive array of various building materials are always available to students. Our 3rd through 5th grade students are pleased to have the use of a classroom inside West Woodland School. After school they all join together in either a group game out on the large playfield or split apart for several different types of physical activities. Staff provides activities for children on a daily basis that may include arts and crafts, technology, cooking, community service, science, woodworking and sports club. Homework club is a daily occurrence and is held in the school cafeteria to allow for a quite place where children can concentrate. The King Snake room computer is connected via satellite to the school server to allow students access to their school files and to assist them in their homework. Specialized programming includes: Music Cooking Arts and Crafts Science Piano Lessons Sports Club Technology Community Service Field Trips Homework Club At Kids Inc after school care is about enrichment. Curriculum is purposeful and planned around monthly themes such as "New Beginnings' or "Celebrations". Each day is filled with activities that focus on core development areas such as science, literacy, art and physical fitness. Part of our mission is to help your child become responsible members of society; we do that through by incorporating the values of responsibility, respect, honesty, caring, faith and fun into our program Our environment supports our philosophy with child-driven, teacher-assisted curriculum. Our experienced and caring staff helps guide children in developing their social and cognitive skills. Language, math, science, creative expression and music enrichment are incorporated into the daily environment. Our excellent child-to-staff ratios allow for individual attention to children's interests and needs. Our curriculum is intended to the skill necessary to navigate though their life. This growth takes place in an environment that nurtures self-esteem, include the ability to resolve conflict and take place in an environment that nurtures self-esteem. Self-esteem is the backbone for all learning, whether cognitive or emotional. The following are areas of development emphasized at Kids Inc: Helping children to define and talk about how they feel. Staff help children learn to recognize different feelings by offering to help them express their feelings. Supporting independence and self-motivation These skill are important for a strong sense of self-esteem. We support children's growth by asking them to take responsibility. In asking children “What do you want to say?” or “How can I help you?” we are teaching children to communicate and coexist in a group. Developing the environment so that it reflects diverse cultures and is representative of the cultures of the program. Staff and Director model the program after results of surveys from parents and children to guarantee inclusion. Attention is paid to emergent curriculum to ensure that the program reflects the evolving culture of the program. Kids Inc is open year round. We are open during Winter Break (December), Mid-Winter Break (February) and Spring Break (April). Our summer camps are exciting and fun-filled programs in which we partner with outside agencies to create stimulating experiences for both school age and pre-school children. |